OEM part suppliers

[SpeedRacerOnline]

I made a big "master list" awhile back. You can find it here:

Online Vendors - Expanded List

Most of us use the OEM website for finding part numbers, too. In fact, I put together another post awhile back listing how to find parts on the foreign Yamaha sites, too, since some there are some parts only found in certain versions of our XJ's. That post is here:

How To: Foreign Yamaha Parts Catalogues

I'm not too familiar with the sites you listed, but I'll check them out and maybe add them to the Online Vendors list. In my opinion, BikeBandit isn't really a place to avoid; it's just usually expensive. I've never heard of anyone having problems with them, but I know I rarely buy from there because the same thing is almost always cheaper elsewhere.

Amazon is a lot like ebay; it's great if you're a smart shopper. I've bought a lot of stuff on Amazon (enough that I may bite the bullet on a Prime account for the free shipping), and I've never had a bad experience. I have bought junk on Amazon before, but I knew it was risky cheap Chinese stuff before I bought it, and knowingly took the chance. Just like ebay, make sure you know what you're looking for, how much it should cost, and read a lot of reviews before you pull the trigger. There is always some risk, though. That's the trade-off for lower prices through online vendors. Shop smart, and if you're not confident or willing to risk it, don't buy it. Dealers are safer, but always a lot more expensive, and not always worth it. Sometimes, but not always.